How to Cite Reddit in APA

Reddit is a social news forum, with user-created content. Reddit users share a wealth of knowledge across subject areas. There are instances when Reddit will provide content to enhance your research, but this should be a source that is consulted after creating your foundation with academic texts and journal articles. In this guide, we will explore the intricacies of citing both Reddit posts and comments, ensuring accuracy and conformity to APA standards.

HOW TO CITE REDDIT POST

Citation
Tailor, L. [outback_tracks]. (2024, February 4). The Australian outback [Online forum post]. Reddit. https://www.reddit.com/r/AustObk/comments/c7d8e9/aust_outback/
Structure
Author of the Reddit post. [Reddit screen name]. (Year, Month Day). Title of the post [Online forum post]. Reddit. URL
Citation
viralhistorysleuth_22. (2024, February 4). The buzz of TikTok’s viral theories [Online forum post]. Reddit. https://www.reddit.com/r/TrendingDis/comments/x3z9p2/tiktoks_vt/
Structure
Reddit screen name. (Year, Month Day). Title of the post [Online forum post]. Reddit. URL

If the author’s real name is available, start by mentioning it first, followed by their screen name in brackets. If the real name isn’t known, only mention the screen name without brackets. Summarize the post’s title in about 20 words, place it in the title position. End with the site name (Reddit) and the post’s URL. Be mindful of screen names in formal research. If there are inappropriate terms, you might consider other sources for similar information.

HOW TO CITE REDDIT COMMENT

Citation
Patel, G. [movieharmonyfan_23]. (2024, February 4). Enchanted by the cinematic harmony [Comment on the online forum post The masterpieces in classic cinema.]. Reddit. https://www.reddit.com/r/ClassicCinema/comments/d1e2f4/classic_cinema/
Structure
Author of the comment. [Reddit screen name]. (Year, Month Day). First 20 words of the comment [Comment on the online forum post Title of the post]. Reddit. URL
Citation
epicscififan_88. (2024, February 4). Diving into the multiverse [Comment on the online forum post Navigating the wonders of parallel realities.]. Reddit. https://www.reddit.com/r/SciFiHub/comments/g7k3p9/nav_par/
Structure
Reddit screen name. (Year, Month Day). First 20 words of the comment [Comment on the online forum post Title of the post]. Reddit. URL

If the author’s real name is available, start by mentioning it first, followed by their screen name in brackets. If the real name isn’t known, only mention the screen name without brackets. Add up to the initial 20 words of the comment then follow with “Comment on the online forum post” and the complete title of the post (italicized and in sentence case, enclosed within square brackets). Conclude by stating the site name (Reddit) and providing the URL of the comment. To obtain the comment’s specific URL, select the date stamp of the comment and copy and paste the resulting URL from your browser.

Link to the Original Post for Accessibility: When citing a Reddit post in APA, it’s crucial to include the URL of the original post in your citation. This not only helps readers access the source directly but also ensures that they can view the entire discussion and context surrounding the post.

Citing Unarchived Live Streams: When citing a livestream, such as Reddit Public Access Network, that isn’t archived by its hosting platform and can’t be retrieved elsewhere, treat it as a personal communication in APA style.

Consider the Source: Reddit contains information shared by millions of people around the world. Some will create content of value to your research, however, it is also possible for user-created content to be inaccurate. Spend some time checking on the legitimacy of shared information before you consider using the post in your research.

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Tomas Elliott (Ph.D.)

Tomas Elliott is an assistant Professor of English at Northeastern University London. His research specialisms include the history of theatre and film, European modernism, world literature, film adaptation, transmedia studies and citation practices. He read English and French Literature at Trinity College, Oxford, before completing a Ph.D. in Comparative Literature and Literary Theory at the University of Pennsylvania.

Learn how to cite in APA